Merry Christmas

Well, it's been two years since I published anything to TJ's blog. I am so excited to announce that my good friend Jennifer Jones entered her gingerbread house into the Ivory Homes Gingerbread House contest this year, and is hoping to win and donate ONE THOUSAND dollars to Wrapped in Love. I am excited (and touched) to think of the impact this could have on families in the area who are experiencing unbelievable loss. I am ashamed to admit that part of the lack of posts was avoidance of my own pain. Remembering our short time with TJ is very bittersweet. I am grateful to Jennifer for helping us to keep him present with us over the last couple of years. She has been trying to get me to donate a tree to Festival of Trees in his name for two years, and each year on his birthday has helped with suggestions for donations to Primary Children's Medical Center. She has also prompted blankets being made on his behalf by sister's in her ward. I am very good at finding ways to stay busy in order to avoid emotional pain. I am feeling ready to embrace my loss and re-visit what was pain that cannot be expressed in words. I do not, nor have I ever felt TJ was lost to us. I feel his presence often, and enjoy the comfort and reminder of eternal relationships. It took me three hours to remember my login to this blog this morning, and am grateful for the inspiration that finally struck, and helped to remind me of my very simple password. I am frustrated with Blogger, their Customer Service team makes retrieving an inactive account almost impossible, but here I am. I am grateful to not only Jennifer Jones, but my children through her, and her husband Blake for their love and support. We love all of our family, and hope you have peace this holiday season. I hope that in the chaos and busy schedules during the holidays, we will take time to remember those less fortunate than us, and pray for inspiration on ways to bear some of their burdens. With love (and gratitude for account retrieval) Jenn